Difference between comets and asteroids
From raju
Q. What is the difference between a comet and an Asteroid?
A. Both asteroids and comets were formed early in the history of the solar system - about 4.5 billion years ago.
Asteroids | Comets |
---|---|
Made up of metals and rocky material | Made up of ice, dust and rocky material |
Asteroids formed much closer to the Sun, where it was too warm for ice to remain solid. | Comets formed farther from the Sun where ice wouldn't melt. |
Comets which approach the Sun lose material with each orbit because some of their ice melts and vaporizes to form a tail. |
Asteroid Belt:- The belt can be seen between Mars and Jupiter. Asteroid belts are mainly circular.
Kuiper Belt:- Many comets originate from this area. Most of these comets orbit the Sun in less than 200 years and return again in predictable intervals.